The Land and Water Conservation Fund back in the Spotlight

Congress and the President talk LWCF

Matt Leahy | February 9, 2016

Tags:: Land and Water Conservation Fund

Federal lawmakers have recently been giving the Land and Water Conservation Fund a whole lot of attention. Of course, as is the case with many issues in Washington, D.C., some of this attention is unwanted and unneeded. On the other hand, some of the developments coming out of the White House and U.S. Capitol Building should give us hope about the future of the program.

In order to give you the strength to deal with the negative news, let’s start with the good stuff. First, in his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2017, President Obama has asked Congress to fully fund the LWCF at its $900 million per year authorized level. Only twice in its 50 year history (1998 and 2001) has the program actually received that amount so the President’s request is significant news. Second, the Energy Policy Modernization Act of 2015 (S. 2012) currently under consideration in the United States Senate, contains a section which would permanently authorize the LWCF. This provision is important because supporters would no longer have to fight, as we did last year, to prevent the program from shutting down. While it is far from certain the underlying Energy bill will become law, it does offer a clear statement that many members of the U.S. Senate want to see a permanent reauthorization.

Unfortunately, the LWCF has its critics and here is where we get to the bad news. Opponents have long been pushing to reduce funding levels or to minimize further federal acquisition of land, especially in the West. The Energy Policy Modernization Act has become a focal point for the anti-LWCF side in the Congress. They have introduced several amendments to the Energy bill that aim to undercut LWCF’s effectiveness. For example, Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma offered an amendment (#3210) which would divert LWCF funds to deferred parks maintenance. The status of national park maintenance needs is a legitimate issue. However, the Energy bill already addresses the problem by creating a new National Park Maintenance and Revitalization Fund that doesn’t steal from the LWCF. In addition, Senator Mike Lee of Utah has an amendment that would strike out the permanent authorization provision. We do not need those amendments. Fortunately, New Hampshire’s U.S. Senators have both been strong advocates of the LWCF. Given the continuing efforts to undercut the LWCF, now would be a great time to let Sen. Shaheen and Sen. Ayotte know you appreciate their support for permanent reauthorization and full funding.

Let’s remember the program is financed from offshore oil and gas revenues-not the taxpayers. The energy companies have reaped major benefits from drilling for oil and gas on the Outer Continental Shelf. Shouldn’t the government uphold the promise made to the American public that a small portion of revenues from this drilling go to outdoor recreation and conservation?

News

Senate Permanently Reauthorizes the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Matt Leahy | February 14, 2019

In an overwhelmingly large bipartisan vote of 92-8, the United States Senate on February 12 approved S. 47, the Natural Resources Management Act. The bill includes a wide-ranging set of provisions that will expand protections for our country’s natural areas. Most importantly, it will permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

The Senate vote is the outcome of the national LWCF Coalition, of which the Forest Society is a member. The coalition has been putting pressure on Congress since the program’s authorization lapsed at the end of September. The bill now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for action. We are hopeful this bipartisan spirit will continue. For more information, read the LWCF Coalition’s statement on the passage of S. 47.

New Hampshire’s U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan both voted in favor of the bill. Please contact them and thank them for their continued leadership on this critically important issue. Read the Senate delegation’s statement on the passage of this landmark legislation here.

For further details of what is in the Natural Resources Management Act, read this article from E&E Daily.

A side thought to consider; most people likely view Congress as being dysfunctional or more focused on scoring political points than on solving challenges facing our country. It is therefore interesting to note that those stereotypical partisan battles did not happen during the deliberations on a bill whose main purpose is the protection of our country’s beautiful landscapes and critically important natural ecosystems. Is it possible that the long-term land protection of the land is the issue that brings all sides together?

LWCF Reauthorization

Matt Leahy | December 20, 2018

For a short time, optimistic media reports suggested Congress would finally reach an agreement to permanently reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF). That didn’t happen. Instead, this impasse marks the second time in the last three years Congress has failed to secure the program’s long-term future. Unfortunately, 2019 will now begin in the same way 2018 ended-with the LWCF in limbo, as it has been since it expired on September 30, and again waiting for Congress to act.

While it is true the LWCF could live on without this authorization (if Congress continues to appropriate money each year for its subprograms and individual projects), relying on the vagaries of the appropriations process undermines the fundamental concept behind its creation. Specifically, it goes against the principle of asset-for-asset reinvestment in conservation, where the sale of one national natural resource (offshore energy) is offset by investing a small portion of royalties into a permanent capital investment in land and water for the American public.

Of further concern, the program’s expiration resulted in the termination of the annual funding deposits which are supposed to go into LWCF to sustain its conservation work. In plain dollars and cents, this means starting back on October 1, the revenue from offshore energy development on the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) stopped flowing into the program at a loss of $2.46M every day.

We are hopeful that when Congress does convene in January for its next session, one of its top priorities will be to end the uncertainty regarding the future of the LWCF. Until we have that assurance, it will be helpful to make a simple call or email to New Hampshire’s Congressional delegation thanking them for their on-going support and encouraging them to remind their colleagues that the American public backs the program. This issue cannot wait any longer.

Here's how to contact the NH congressional delegation to say THANK YOU:

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Veterans Group Ramps Up Effort to Reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund

Matt Leahy | November 8, 2018

Underscoring the urgency of reauthorizing the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the ad pictured below was placed by the Vet Voice Foundation (VVF) in the Boston Globe on October 4th. Vet Voice Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that works to provide veterans the opportunity to continue serving their communities through new missions in domestic and foreign policy campaigns important to our country. The fact that the VVF has focused part of its efforts on the LWCF, further highlights why the program matters. The organization believes that recreating and protected lands can help veterans heal from the trauma of war and renew bonds with family members after long deployments.

Read more on the VVF’s position on the protection of these special places in this 4-page fact sheet (PDF).

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